|
a.
|
Note: Letter from Martin Van Buren Jones to Mariah Vaughan (original in the possession of the Berry family):
Crescent City Clamouth Co, Cal March 20th /54
Mis Mariah R Vaughan = I Say
here I come = wide awake and full of every Body I am happy to inform you that I received your letter dated Christmas eve = and also that I am well and hope those few lines will find you enjoying the same great Blessing = H [K?] Miller was at My house this morning. he was a going to kill an elk he follows hunting for a livelyhood here he has taken a land claim within three miles of mine but he can't think of making a home in this country in one year[?] he says he must and will go home to Illinois = for my part the longer I stay, in this country, the better I like it. I have bin liveing on my Claim this winter or rather staying ther and it seems the most like home of any place I can get or ever saw in the far west and the more I look at it the more I think it's large enough for two @@ home = My horses is all gon = I have but one mule, that I bought at Grand Round as I were comeing Acrofs the planes = and I think I shall keep her until she Dies. I traded my horses for town property and made a good trade = at least I think so = for I can take the value of my horses and two hundred dollars for my bargain any time that I will say the word but I intend to keep it until it is worth more = Oh you Say Sary Sherman is in the Desmoin River = if She has bin there all this tim She is either froze or Drownded therefore Dont think that I live with the expectation of Ever seeing her again = pleas to go and See Arsinoe a gain and tell Aunt that I will try her at her word bineby when I get my Vegetable planted = I think of starting from here in May - I would like to see you and will if I live long enough = I have and will write to you with the expectation that you will return the compliment in good faith = I spent my Chrismas and New Years in hunting indians with C Miller = it would please me very much to see you as tall as Arsinoe and Julette in particular you say Julette is some punkins = I believe it = you also say let old Aquaintance be Remembered it is a whack = and often brought to mind = and you are often in my mind = it done my very soul good when I come to where you said let what is past be forgotten for no one thought of it you knew = I would be glad to forget it if I could = I am by my self this Evening like any other old Bachelor but ther has no man or woman bin after me to go to a party = play = Dance nor nothing els = nor they need not come now if they do do down goes their hea[d?] = excuse me for take up yor discourse so close = but I cant think you simple I would like to see Jont and hear him talk and play the violin = and the rest of the family give them my respects I have got one quarter section of land that I would not give for John Rudolph whole six hundred and 40 = I can't hardly believe that you wrote the letter yet if you did write it = its the first letter I ever received from a single Lady = and what I have said stands good but if you did not write the letter I take back all I have said and beg to be excused for it
I am Writing Most to M[corner missing] I will thank you for your good attention and [corner missing] behavior and say no mor = With the Promis of Doing Better when I Hear From You Again
I Remain Your Most Obedient Servant MV Jones
Oh give my best respects to all and Keep some for your Self Good By
Amen
Mis Mariah R Vaughan
Oh Miller Says that a man by the name Darst I believe is most dead after you but is to bashful to tell you so
------------------------
( According to George Thomas Berry Jr, Rockland was a settlement on Rowdy Creek near the Smith River, Del Norte Co., CA. There was a gold rush in the area in 1864 and MV Jones & partners set themselves up in business there briefly with an eating establishment or inn.)
Rockland Oct 18th 1864
Mrs Mariah Jones We Are all well and hope this will find you and the Children the Same, and in good Spirits I believe we have got the best thing here that we have ever had I have taken in $150, one hundred and fifty dollars Since I came out this last time it is Just two weeks to day Since I took Pofsession and I have taken over $250 dolars I got fifty dollars yesterday morning all the loaded teams that you see pass the house all stop here there has not one got by yet nor they cant get by we are getting a long first rate with the cooking the travelors says we give the best grub that they can get on the road there is A crowd of teams in town and as soon as they get by here you may look for Martin V. Jones to Come and see YOU - And if you wish to marry I am your man I believe this is the Second or third letter that I ever wrote to you And you Seem Dearrer -Sweeter- better than you ever Did to me before I wish I could rub out that word Dearer and put Nearer in the place of it or even one letter and that would be the letter D. I think that we would be tolerable snug together if we were only nearrer than we ever was before I feel as if never would walk out of your sight again when I get where you are Again good by peace Joy and comfort be with you = My dear little wife Mariah Jones I am yours while I live
Martin V Jones to Mariah R Jones
My Dear here is A few verses that I hapened to glance my eyes on to as I was writing it Suits my feelings in some respects I will send it as this Seems to be a Short letter to one So Kind - true - and trustworthy to me as you
|
